Packer Update

If GM Ted Thompson had any intention of adding a veteran quarterback to the roster, Matt Flynn’s strong performance on Thursday night probably put an end to that possibility. “The Packers might lose Flynn if they place him on waivers and I don’t think they are willing to take that chance,” said a person familiar with the situation. “He’s not ready to be a No. 2 quarterback, but he’s an ideal No. 3.” And therein lies the problem. Flynn and fellow rookie Brian Brohm are too desirable to make available to other teams, but neither seems ready to take over should something happen to starter Aaron Rodgers. “The truth is, Green Bay would’ve been better off had Flynn played poorly against the Titans. I didn’t see him getting claimed before that game, but now I’m not so sure. He’s probably a better prospect than quite a few of the third-stringers on other rosters.

So what will the Packers do? Well, they could wake up on Saturday morning to the "disappointing" news that Brohm has a “high ankle sprain.” Placing the former Louisville star on injured reserve would be one way to clear a roster spot while still holding on to both youngsters. Or they could decide to carry four quarterbacks, although that seems unlikely since Jon Gruden isn’t the coach. Or they could roll the dice and hope that Flynn sneaks through waivers, but even if he did, it would only be a matter of time before he was signed off of the practice squad by another team.

Since none of those options are likely, it appears as if Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy are going to stick to the plan that they’ve been advocating for months. “I’ll say this, those two guys have some serious cojones,” opined the source. “First they refused to take Brett Favre back and now they seem prepared to go into the season with two rookies behind a first-time starting quarterback. That takes a lot of guts.” Not to mention a pair of long-term extensions.

Copyright 2008 Packer Update, Inc.

The Packers weren’t perfect in Friday night’s victory at Denver, but after stinking up the field against the 49ers six days earlier, head coach Mike McCarthy had to be very pleased with the team’s overall effort. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers directed the offense to scores on four of his five drives and the special teams were terrific. The results weren't nearly as positive for the defense, but things should improve once tackle Ryan Pickett, pass rusher Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and linebacker A.J. Hawk return to the lineup. 

The Packers desperately need Ryan Grant to play as well this season as he did late in 2007, but that possibility seems less likely by the day. Not only has the young running back missed virtually all of training camp with a strained hamstring, but even more alarmingly, he hasn’t faced live competition since the NFC championship game against the Giants in January. That’s because Grant chose to sit out the offseason minicamps and OTAs while his agent and the team negotiated a long-term contract. “Sure he got his money, but at what cost?” asked a scout for another team. “He missed a golden opportunity to improve during the spring and now the summer has turned into just as big of a waste of time. This isn’t a recipe for success – especially against defenses that will be less concerned about Green Bay’s passing game and more focused on stopping the run in 2008.”

Here are the scout’s other areas of concern heading into Friday night’s third preseason game against the Denver Broncos:

OFFENSIVE LINE: “The tackles are solid, but the interior has been a huge problem all summer. I don’t understand why [coach] Mike McCarthy insists on moving those guys around. Is it really necessary to slide Jason Spitz over to center when Scott Wells gets dinged? Why not just let Junius Coston fill in during practice and the exhibition games? It’s awfully easy to criticize Spitz and Daryn Colledge, but I’ve never seen young offensive linemen jerked around in such a way. This looks like a weakness heading into the season, and that’s a shame because I honestly believe that the talent level is more than adequate.”

DEFENSIVE LINE: “This was the deepest position on the team a year ago, and now the Packers have to rely heavily on a journeyman like Colin Cole. Even worse, the coaches are desperate enough to give mediocre ends Michael Montgomery and Jason Hunter snaps at tackle in the nickel package. That’s because Justin Harrell can’t stay healthy and Cullen Jenkins and Johnny Jolly are having disappointing summers. Even with Ryan Pickett and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila back in the lineup, this position won’t be a strength in ‘08 unless Jenkins and Jolly step it up.”

QUARTERBACK: “I don’t have a problem with the starter. Aaron Rodgers will be fine as long as his teammates start blocking and catching for him. He certainly wasn’t great against San Francisco, but I’m not sure Johnny Unitas would’ve stood much of a chance on that night. The problem is with the two rookie backups. Neither Brian Brohm nor Matt Flynn is anywhere close to being ready to play at this level. It didn’t really matter who the No. 2 quarterback was when Brett Favre was around, but the odds are that it will matter now – especially if Rodgers keeps getting knocked on his ass. This football team is too talented not to have a veteran ready to step in if need be.”

CORNERBACK: “Charles Woodson looks terrific, but I’m a little concerned about his partner. Al Harris struggled down the stretch last season and he’s been bothered by a sore back for almost a year now. And even if Harris can squeeze another solid year out of his 33-year-old body, is Tramon Williams capable of holding up as the nickel back? He’s looked good during the spring and summer, but then again, so did Jarrett Bush a year ago. When a defense has two stud corners, the No. 3 guy is going to have a constant target on his back. And if Williams isn’t up to the task, opposing quarterbacks will find him all day long.”

The Green Bay Packers have completed three full weeks of training camp and played one preseason game, but things may not be any clearer at a number of positions than they were nearly a month ago. “It’s still too close to call at guard between three young players,” said a former scout who has attended about a dozen practices. “The next few weeks will decide that competition, as well as who the top backups will be at quarterback, tight end, middle linebacker and cornerback. It should be very interesting to watch.”

Here’s more of the scout’s opinions after three weeks of camp:

QUARTERBACK: “I’ve seen nothing to suggest that either Brian Brohm or Matt Flynn is ready to play at this level. I know that [coach] Mike McCarthy has been praising Flynn recently, but I don’t see much to get excited about. The young man certainly has poise, but he’s a bit slow to react in the pocket and he’s completed very few passes over 15 yards in training camp. I can’t imagine opening the regular season with either rookie as the No. 2 quarterback.”

RUNNING BACK: “Brandon Jackson is one of the most improved players on the team. He showed the entire country on Monday night what the coaches have been seeing all spring and summer. I’m really surprised that he continues to struggle in pass protection. He gives a solid effort, but he needs to take better angles. I know that rookie Kregg Lumpkin has looked pretty good, but I expect [GM] Ted Thompson to keep either Vernand Morency or Noah Herron as the No. 3 back. Right now, Morency’s athleticism probably gives him a very slight edge.”

TIGHT END: “If Tory Humphrey makes the team, it’ll almost be by default. There isn’t a true No. 2 tight end on the roster – although rookie Jermichael Finley could develop into that player by midseason. I wouldn’t be shocked to see a veteran brought in after final cuts. With so many quality wide receivers on the roster, the Packers need a backup tight end whose primary strength is as a blocker.”

WIDE RECEIVER: “I told you months ago that James Jones has a chance to be a star. The kid has all the skills you look for in a wide receiver. He’d catch 70 or 80 passes if not for the fact that Donald Driver and Greg Jennings are ahead of him in the pecking order. Rookie Jordy Nelson is an exciting prospect, but right now Ruvell Martin is the better player. Chris Francies had been very solid prior to Monday night, but his poor performance will almost certainly cost him a roster spot. I don’t see the team keeping six at this position. Instead, look for Taj Smith and/or Brett Swain to be stashed on the practice squad.”

OFFENSIVE LINE: “Rookie right guard Josh Sitton really struggled against Cincy’s regulars. He looked very tentative. That’s not a surprise for a player starting his first game, but it also can’t be an excuse. He’ll need to perform a lot better on Saturday. Daryn Colledge is a better tackle than guard. I would expect him to take the majority of his snaps behind Chad Clifton in the weeks to come. Tony Moll played adequately at three positions against the Bengals and that could be enough to keep him around. I don’t see a decent backup right tackle on the roster.”

DEFENSIVE LINE: “You know you’re in some trouble when Colin Cole is the No. 3 tackle. The guy works hard, but he’s not consistent enough to play significant snaps for a team that expects to play good defense. Daniel Muir and Alfred Malone played OK on Monday, but neither has done enough to ease the team’s concerns about the depth on the inside. Mike Montgomery has been almost as productive as Cullen Jenkins at end this summer. That’s a problem. So is the lack of a pass rush. Even with a healthy Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, I’m still not convinced that this group is going to get enough pressure on the quarterback.”

LINEBACKER: “With A.J. Hawk out, it’s time for Brandon Chillar to step up. So far, the ex-Ram has been a disappointment. Abdul Hodge was terrific against the Bengals, and if he stays healthy, it’s hard to imagine him not making the team. Tracy White will hurt you from scrimmage, but he’s been a top special teams player for years. Undrafted rookie Danny Lansanah has had a very solid training camp and could wind up on the practice squad.”

DEFENSIVE BACK: “You can make an argument that Jarrett Bush has been as good as any of the young corners this summer, but I saw enough of him last season to know that he’s better in practice than in games. That’s why I expect Tramon Williams to keep the No. 3 job. Undrafted rookie Joe Porter has some cover skills and should stick on the practice squad if he clears waivers. The coaches seem content with Nick Collins and Atari Bigby at safety, but I’d like to see more of Aaron Rouse. He’s a playmaker and that’s what this defense really needs.”

SPECIALISTS: So far, so good for rookie long snapper J.J. Jansen. He was perfect against the Bengals. Punter Jon Ryan is still too inconsistent, but he has a strong leg and he’s developed into a quality holder. That should keep him safe. Will Blackmon is the team’s best returner, but Tramon Williams and Jordy Nelson are pretty darn good as well.”

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The decision to give rookie Josh Sitton an opportunity to win the starting job at right guard has absolutely nothing to do with Jason Spitz’s performance thus far in camp. In fact, the former Louisville star has been the team’s most consistent interior lineman. “This move is all about getting the two best guards on the field at the same time,” said a person familiar with the situation. “And right now, Sitton is playing at a higher level than either Daryn Colledge or Allen Barbre.” Spitz will soon begin taking snaps at left guard – a position he has played both in college and with the Packers.

With their number of snaps at guard likely to be cut dramatically in the days to come, look for Colledge and perhaps Barbre to begin seeing more time at tackle. The Packers have virtually no depth behind longtime starters Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher. “It’s become obvious that Orrin Thompson, Tony Moll and Breno Giacomini can’t get the job done,” said the source. “I’m not sure if Colledge and Barbre are the answer, but at least they have the physical skills needed to compete at one the league’s most demanding positions.” They also have the background. Both were four-year starters at tackle in college.

Copyright 2008 Packer Update, Inc. Linking to the site is OK, but posting stories is NOT.

"Commissioner Roger Goodell has reinstated Brett Favre. And while the veteran quarterback is scheduled to arrive in Green Bay later this afternoon, we've been told that the chances of him ever taking snaps with the rest of the team are very slim. According to a source, "something" will happen in the next few days to finally bring this sorry saga to a resolution. What that "something" is remains to be seen."